Modern Pentathlon targeting Paralympic inclusion after exhibition event in Argentina

A next step in modern pentathlon's pursuit of a place on the Paralympic programme has taken place with a landmark exhibition event in Buenos Aires, consisting of the three disciplines of fencing, shooting and cross-country running.

The competition, which consisted of a five-strong domestic field, was the first of its kind and organised by the Argentine Paralympic Committee in conjunction with the International Modern Pentathlon Union (UIPM) and the Argentinian Modern Pentathlon Federation.

Taking place during the Youth World Championships at the Colegio Militar de la Nacion in the capital city, action consisted of a fencing event, a swim and a combined run-shoot, with athletes only competing in the events they were familiar with.

Fencers Luis Alarcon and Alejandro Palavecino were joined by athletes Liz Scaroni and Enrique Rotondo, and Para-triathlete Juan Manuel Geny, with the participants giving their views on the format in a survey afterwards.

"Having practised a new sport was an excellent experience for me," said Geny, national triathlon record holder for the last 11 years.

"It puts your skills to the test."

Triathlete Juan Manuel Geny was among those to participate in the exhibition event ©Getty Images

Modern Pentathlon was recognised by the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) in July 2014, sitting alongside bobsleigh, powerchair football, handball, hockey, flying disc, arm wrestling, squash and karate as recognised sports which are yet to appear on the programme.

Such an ambition still appears a distant dream, with the sport having not event applied in an inclusion-process for the Tokyo 2020 Games after which badminton and taekwondo were selected.

But the authorities are excited nonetheless and confident further progress can be made, with Paralympic inclusion specified as an ambition in a UIPM release.

"We want to develop Para-modern pentathlon throughout the whole world," said the international governing body's President Klaus Schormann.

"The UIPM aims to make modern pentathlon accessible to everyone, regardless of gender, age or skin colour."

Argentine Paralympic Committee President Jose Maria Valladares added. "As soon as they presented this project to us, we joined them with total commitment.

"We want the Paralympic athlete to achieve excellence in order to inspire the world.

"UIPM authorities are as excited as we are,"